Bartanaha  (Nairobi:— Witnesses say Somalis in four towns held by Islamist militants are protesting a recent decision by East African nations to send 2,000 more peacekeepers to Somalia.

The protesters marched through the streets and chanted slogans denouncing the East African bloc and the U.N.-backed Somali government. They also denounced neighboring Ethiopia, which withdrew from Somalia last year after a fighting insurgents for nearly three years.

The leaders of the militant group al-Shabab called for Somalis to prepare for a holy war against new troops.

Yusuf Ali Heydar, an al-Shabab leader, called for African nations to take back pledges of troops.

About 6,000 African peacekeeping troops are deployed in Somalia. The East African bloc this week pledged 2,000 more.

Source:AP

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